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Incidence, prevalence and aetiology of seizures and epilepsy in children
Peter Camfield1, Carol Camfield1
1Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Department of Pediatrics, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Insights
Childhood epilepsy incidence and prevalence are higher in developing countries, especially rural areas. Specific epilepsy syndromes and causes remain under-documented globally.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Global Health
Background:
- Epilepsy is a significant neurological disorder in children worldwide.
- Understanding its incidence and prevalence is crucial for public health initiatives.
- Distinguishing between seizures and epilepsy, and identifying etiologies, presents challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize global literature on childhood epilepsy incidence and prevalence.
- To explore difficulties in defining epilepsy etiologies in children.
- To differentiate between seizures and epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of published, peer-reviewed literature.
- Focused analysis on systematic reviews.
- Synthesis of data on incidence, prevalence, and epilepsy syndromes.
Main Results:
- Childhood epilepsy incidence ranges from 41-187/100,000, higher in developing/rural areas, peaking in the first year.
- Prevalence is higher than incidence (3.2-5.5/1,000 developed; 3.6-44/1,000 developing countries).
- Focal seizures are more common; only one-third of cases fit defined epilepsy syndromes.
Conclusions:
- Childhood epilepsy is more prevalent in developing/rural regions; reasons are unclear.
- Focal seizures are predominant.
- Specific epilepsy syndromes and their prevalence/incidence are poorly documented.
Aim:
To (1) summarize published, peer-reviewed literature about the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy in children from developed and developing countries around the world, and (2) discuss problems in defining aetiologies of epilepsy in children, and distinguish between seizures and epilepsy.
Methods:
Review of selected literature with particular attention to systematic reviews.
Results:
The incidence of epilepsy in children ranges from 41-187/100,000. Higher incidence is reported from underdeveloped countries, particularly from rural areas. The incidence is consistently reported to be highest in the first year of life and declines to adult levels by the end of the first decade. The prevalence of epilepsy in children is consistently higher than the incidence and ranges from 3.2-5.5/1,000 in developed countries and 3.6-44/1,000 in underdeveloped countries. Prevalence also seems highest in rural areas. The incidence and prevalence of specific seizure types and epilepsy syndromes is less well documented. In population-based studies, there is a slight, but consistent, predominance of focal seizures compared with generalized seizures. Only about one third of children with epilepsy can be assigned to a specific epilepsy syndrome, as defined by the most recently proposed system for organization of epilepsy syndromes.
Conclusions:
The incidence and prevalence of epilepsy in children appears to be lower in developed countries and highest in rural areas of underdeveloped countries. The reasons for these trends are not well established. Although focal seizures predominate, the incidence and prevalence of specific epilepsy syndromes is not well documented.
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